Commas

=**Commas**=

LIsted below are a few lessons found in Section 2 of //Mechanically Inclined (pages 83-101).//

//Lesson: Flipping for the Compound Sentence (Anderson 85-6)// This lesson on compound sentences has students returning to previous works and rewriting their sentences into compounds. I particularly like this because of the revisiting prior work element, as well as his use of the novel //Flipped//.
 * No Comma in a Compound Sentence**

//Lesson: From Nice to Splice--FANBOYS to the Rescue (Anderson 88)// This lesson has the teacher take sentences from a book and removes their coordinating conjunctions. As a whole class, students will discuss the subjects and verbs, and commas. But coordinating conjunctions are not directly addressed by the teacher. Instead, they wait until a student points this out themselves, letting them catch the error themselves.
 * Comma Splice**

//Lesson: If There Were An Olympic Contest for Sentence Imitating (Anderson 91)// This lesson has students imitating a sentence from the book //Flipped,// creating their own version of //If there were an Olympic contest for _____, ______ would sweep the event//. This is a quick and easy lesson that is very straightforward.
 * No Comma After an Introductory Element**

//Lesson: Basket Case-- The Essential Nonessential Comma Rule (Anderson 94)// Comparing the commas around a nonessential element to basket handles, this lesson "lifts" interrupters out of sentences and has students comparing the two versions.
 * No Comma in a Nonrestrictive Element**

//Lesson: An Appositive Imitation Is the Sincerest Form of Flattery... But Plagiarism Isn't (Anderson 94-5)// This is a lesson is on imitation vs. plagiarism, as well as appositives and the Basket interrupters from the previous lesson. Students imitate the structure of a sentence from a book presented by the teacher.

//Lesson: Life Detectives--Paying attention to Detail and the Cumulative Sentence (Anderson 97-8)// This had students make observations about anything in their lives and take field notes. Using these field notes, they construct their own narrative sentences.
 * No Comma Setting Off Additions at the End of a Sentence**

//Lesson: Think-Aloud--Commas, Are You Serial? (Anderson 100)// This Think-Aloud activity involves whole class discussion, and addresses how a sentence with a series sounds vs. how it looks written down.
 * Lack of Commas in a Series**

**Online Resources**
[|Rules for Comma Usage] A site for basic comma rules that can be easily referred to. It provides simple examples to help explain concepts, which are very helpful.

[|How to Avoid a Common Comma Error: The Comma Splice] This instruction on comma splices is from a site called quickanddirtytips.com. There is a 12-minute podcast for those who want to listen to the lesson, and a transcript for those who do not.

[|OWL Purdue: Commas] The Online Writing Lab provides extensive details on the correct usage of commas. This may not be as easily accessible for some students since it is aimed towards college students.

[|TEDEd-Comma Story] This is an interactive lesson provided by the makers of TED talks. The video is entertaining, and the site provides a quick little quiz for students, as well as links to additional resources.

[|Commas - Punctuation Rules] Another site that has basic rules for comma usage. It gives very short, basic rules, and provides examples for each.

[|BrainPOP: Commas with Adjectives and Lists] BrainPOP provides an extensive list of lessons and ideas on how to teach students about commas, which can be organized by subject, standard, and grade.

Reference List
Anderson, J. (2005). Mechanically //Inclined.// Portland, ME: Stenhouse.

Capitol Community College Foundation. (n.d.). //Rules for Comma Usage//. Retrieved from http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/commas.htm

Fogarty, M. (2013). //How to Avoid a Common Comma Error: The Comma Splice//. Retrieved from http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/how-to-avoid-a-common-comma-error-the-comma-splice

Folaron, T. (n.d.). //Comma Story - Terisa Folaron//. Retreived from http://ed.ted.com/lessons/comma-story-terisa-folaron

FWD Media Inc. (2013). Commas //with Adjectives and Lists.// Retrieved from http://www.brainpop.com/educators/community/bp-jr-topic/commas-with-adjectives-and-lists/

Straus, J. (2013). //Commas//. Retrieved from http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/commas.asp